Nurses with ADD/ADHD?

[Metron]

Hey all! I was wondering if there are any nurses with ADD/ADHD out there who want to comiserate and support each other? I know I need the help/advice. It might also be a place for "regular" people (I hate the word normal) to come and read and understand what its like for us. Or ask us ?'s.

I'll start with an intro:p I'm 29, and I've had an official diagnosis for less than 2 years, but have been trying to find the answer (for what's up with me) for MUCH longer than that:uhoh21: :) I currently work night shift at a drug rehab and on call at a nursing home. I have a lot of trouble in staff meetings - sitting through them, being treated like a brat because I actually show some emotion. I had much difficulty in school, (I didn't know back then), not with grades but with social stuff. I almost got kicked out of school because of the problems I was having.

But its not all bad. I'm funny and creative and often am able to connect with my patients in unique ways.

So we'll see how many of us there are out there?:)

[rjbryan]

Well, after the third job in less than three years, I found out my trouble: ADHD.

Just DXd with it, and just put on Aderall. Mine is a version of it I haven't seen discussed much, ADHD Inattentive Type. There seems to be at least six sub categories of this disease. I musat say, after having been on the stimulant medicines, I can say "WOW! So THIS is what everyone else knows that I don't!"

I was misdiagnosed long ago with depression and treated with a medicine that does keep SOME symptoms of ADHD under control. Now, the trick is to learn to live with the disease and try and pick up the crumbs of my life.

Randy

[wannabemw]

Congrats! It's amazing isn't it?

Personally, my DH couldn't believe the change. I would get ready to go & not be running around looking for things I needed at the last minute. LOL.

Adderall (I take xr-extended release) is a great medication.

I have noticed that I do tend to get some OCD on it though. Has anyone else has had this side effect?

e.g.; housework- once I start & can't stop; even if I have to study (NCLEX) {yeah I know like it's a bad thing to have a clean kitchen? lol}

e.g.; email- I can't send a letter until it's to my standards (sometimes it takes me up to an hr to write it!)

Good Luck!

~MJ

Okay, now that it has taken me 15m just to write this, I gotta stop...

[NurseEcho]

I am truly starting to think that I have ADD. I was thinking about it tonight and I can't keep my home or car organized no matter how hard I try and I never finish any task that I set out to complete. I will be starting nursing school this fall and I need to fix these things in order for me to be successful.

I'm not sure what I need to do though?

First, find a good health care professional (others have made valuable suggestions.) I went to my family doctor because she knows me well and respects the fact that I'm very much in tune with my own body.

Despite always getting very good grades, I had a terrible time functioning as an RN. I'd hit a critical mass of tasks to be done and it felt like my brain would just shut down. I had two bad performance reviews (two different jobs in 6 months) because of this.

I *know* I'm not stupid or incompetent, and slowly I began to suspect that I had ADD (this was at age 37). What I did was wrote out a timeline, going back to childhood, of red flags ... I actually found my report card from kindergarten in which the teacher noted that I was very fidgety (to the point that I was evaluated for epilepsy and/or Tourette's) and had trouble waiting my turn at snack time. That was the beginning of a long history of impulsivity, disorganization, and later career-changing, job-hopping, and erratic relationships. I've also struggled with depression since my teens and have a strong family history of mental illness.

I took my own documentation to my doctor, told her I was concerned that I may have ADD, and reviewed the "evidence" with her. She agreed that it was worth pursuing, and started me on Adderall as well as referring me to a psychologist.

The change was stunning. My husband noticed the change within days, and later admitted he'd feared for our marriage because I had become so hard to live with. I became more focused, more organized, and far less emotionally volatile. At work, I can now multitask without melting down, and actually enjoy doing a wide variety of things (I work in a cardiology office and do everything from phone triage to ultrasound to stress testing to teaching to labs, sometimes all in the same day ... and I love it!)

I just had another performance review last week, and my manager said she'd been worried at first that I was not up to the demands, but that I am now exceeding her expectations. I told her of my diagnosis, and also that my marriage (which was rocky for quite a while) was back on track. She was very supportive -- it turns out her child also has ADHD and they're still working on finding the best treatment.

I'd really, really recommend that you get evaluated before starting nursing school! It would have made life so much easier had I been diagnosed sooner -- I was almost kicked out a couple of times because of my impulsive behavior.

It's never too late ... all the best to you and thanks all for this thread :icon_razz:

[LZRN]

I was diagnised with dyslexia when I was a child and have learned to deal with it. I absolutly know I have ADHD but have never done anything about it. I plan on doing a masters/NP or PA program soon so I'm considering seeking help.

I not only have ADHD but dyslexia as well. It makes life much more difficult to the point, I want to leave. Does anyone else have this combo?

[user9876]

honestly... i think it's ridiculous the way sooo many people think they are ADD these days. i honestly think MAYBE 50% of people who are on medicine for ADD actually are. in highschool and college i've had MANY friends who wanted adderall scripts (for studying, drinking with, various reasons.. but abusing it) and went to psychiatrists and did all the tests and whatnot and ALL were found to have ADD. i think almost anyone who is willing to go to different doctors complaining of attention problems, etc., can end up getting an adderall script if they push for it enough, after the doc tries to start them out on stratera, etc. i see it happen allll the time. it's totally ridiculous. that's just my honest opinion. there are other ways to deal with and function with these very common symptoms that MANY people deal with all the time.

[LZRN]

That's why I waited until I completed two degrees, owned four homes and have a wife and two children to seek treatment. But, then again Alabama :trout: is the cultural center of the universe, so you must know what your talking about. Just my opinion.:monkeydance:

honestly... i think it's ridiculous the way sooo many people think they are ADD these days. i honestly think MAYBE 50% of people who are on medicine for ADD actually are. in highschool and college i've had MANY friends who wanted adderall scripts (for studying, drinking with, various reasons.. but abusing it) and went to psychiatrists and did all the tests and whatnot and ALL were found to have ADD. i think almost anyone who is willing to go to different doctors complaining of attention problems, etc., can end up getting an adderall script if they push for it enough, after the doc tries to start them out on stratera, etc. i see it happen allll the time. it's totally ridiculous. that's just my honest opinion. there are other ways to deal with and function with these very common symptoms that MANY people deal with all the time.

[hogan4736, BSN, RN]

Prepare to flame me...

I worked as a pharmacy tech before nursing school (circa 1991)...I found a discarded lot of ritalin and dexedrine in the peds psych hospital where I was working...I, a previous psych tech (7 years), and a friend, took it (by mouth and snorting)...It was recreational...We soon ran out of our stock...Then my friend (a behavioral health tech at a group home) and I found more of these meds (from discharged patients), and took them again...

By this time, I was taking my pre-requisites for nursing...I discovered that these "meds" were GREAT study aides...As a previously mediocre student, I embraced this (despite my consistent 120 BPM heartbeat ALL the time)...I was taking a Ritalin 20 mg SR in the AM, and supplementing a dexedrine 10 mg capsule 2-3x during the day, capping it off with a beer or two at the end of my day (equivalent to the clonidine that brings you down after the high of the speed)...

I aced my pre-requisites, and was accepted into nursing school...I left the SPEED behind...

Does this stuff work??

YES...

Is it bad for adults (especially those that have alcoholism/addiction in their family)?

YES...

It's even worse for kids...

A quote from a 9 year old (who just started on adderal - BTW, a 5 SALT dextroamphetamine - stronger than the best street stuff): "My brain is going a thousand miles per hour...I can't stand it"

Yea, that's a good plan

My point is that, I believe, although these meds work for adults, they are only feeding their addiction, and are validated by positive results...This very problem, I believe, has befallen our youth...Yes, the meds make for better results, but what is the cost???

[hogan4736, BSN, RN]

That's why I waited until I completed two degrees, owned four homes and have a wife and two children to seek treatment. But, then again Alabama :trout: is the cultural center of the universe, so you must know what your talking about. Just my opinion.:monkeydance:

I do know what I'm talking about...I have insight...I took it for 18 months, DAILY...

Pediatricians ARE prescibing this stuff (for the first time) as well as GPs...

This is what's most criminal...

BTW, my two degrees, 3 houses AND two kids are what keeps me on-task...no meds needed here...I learned from my mistakes...

I am not disparaging you...Just sharing my story...

Though, the speed WOULD make it easier...HMMMMMM

If you want to take this stuff (Hell, I KNOW it would make me more focused, and stay on-task), that's your business...

Please think 2wice before letting your 11 year old take it...

A good psych eval AND behavioral counseling are necessary BEFORE ingesting this stuff...And throw in a consult from an addiction medicine specialist...

I just saw a Concerta ad on this website (for kids)...I certainly will be flamed...

Drugging kids and school violence

Ask a doc from a third world country if ADHD exists in his homeland...He will laugh uncontrollably...They pity us...

[jon_kulas]

hello guys

I do think I have ADHD.. Mind whirls out and cant focus when stressed out.. have some problem regarding some social skills.. and has been like this since I was a teen.. I'm disheartened about going to a psych MD because, here in the Philippines, the stigma attached is great:crying2: . I really do want to function more effectively, because I know in my heart that I have so much to offer.. need some advice on what to do.. please help

[Justhere, BSN, RN]

My 7 year old daughter takes Concerta. Without it she is a wild child. She literally bounces. Hubby forgot to give it to her one morning before she went to school. Teacher was calling at 1100. When I got to school with her medicine I met her at the water fountain and she said "didn't have my medicine so I can't shut my brain down." Talked with her about that when she got home, and she says without her meds things just constantly pop into her head and she can't think, and she feels like she just has to get up and move. But once she has her medicine she feels in control. To all means the medicine does not slow her down any she is still a very active child, but she is able to control her impulses better.

I too was a AD/HD kid and took Ritalin until the sixth grade, the doctor usually took you off of it when you reached puberty. 7th & 8th grade stayed grounded almost the entire year because my grades slipped down to the C & D's. Got a D in choir, because I couldn't sit still and concentrate on what we were suppose to be doing. Got through nursing school twice with out meds, but this last time probably would have helped out alot. I would say I am more ADD now, wish I had the hyperness back again. It is hard for me to get things done, takes me hours to clean my house, start one thing and wind out doing something else, then wind up doing something else, etc. Until I get back to the first task and realize I didn't finish it like unload the dryer, but don't go back until 2 hours later to realize I never put the cloths that were in the washer into the dryer and the dryer door is still open. My doc when I was in school said he could put me on medicine but I decided to hold off. I thought about it, because I love to write but don't ever finish what I start. Did finish one book one time because everyone at work was reading it also and kept pushing me to finish. Bad thing it was hand written, have tried to type it up but can't get through the first chapter without trying to rewrite the whole thing. Also love to crochet, but can't do anything bigger then a baby blanket before putting it down and not picking it back up. I will start another blanket before finishing one for a bigger bed.

[hogan4736, BSN, RN]

My 7 year old daughter takes Concerta. Without it she is a wild child. She literally bounces. Hubby forgot to give it to her one morning before she went to school. Teacher was calling at 1100. When I got to school with her medicine I met her at the water fountain and she said "didn't have my medicine so I can't shut my brain down."

I don't dispute its effects on kids...But what are the long term issues/side effects?

The "experts" don't know...

Attaching behavior control to a pill can be a dangerous thing to teach a child...

Google Answers: Negative side effects of Ritalin

Think Ritalin is safe?

Suppressing The Passion Of Children - ADHD - ADD - Hyperactivity - Ritalin - Psychiatry Drugging Kids

The last article asks the question: "Do we know how the kids FEEL while taking this?"

I spent 9 years, 40 + hours a week with these kids...They told us how they felt...The overwhelming answer (if they could articulate it) was lousy...

then at bedtime, we gave them an anti-hypertensive med...It helps them "come down"

[user9876]

That's why I waited until I completed two degrees, owned four homes and have a wife and two children to seek treatment. But, then again Alabama :trout: is the cultural center of the universe, so you must know what your talking about. Just my opinion.:monkeydance:

and living in alabama has what to do with anything?? wow, how ignorant can you possibly be...... and where are you from, by the way?